I have to admit that one of the joys of this job is getting letters. It lets you know how you're doing; how people are reacting to the work you are doing. However, the problem with letters is that they can be anonymous. People can say whatever they want, and not have to face the consequences.

Today, I got such a letter. Again, I am fine with the fact that it criticized a story I wrote. That comes with the territory. What I didn't like was the fact that the person did not attach their name to it anywhere. They simply signed it "A Concerned Honey Brook Citizen."

This letter was in response to an article I wrote about Tiffany Barkman-Kirlin who was recently paralyzed. Her family was holding a fundraiser and wanted some publicity.
Below is the letter word for word and my response in bold:

Attn: Editor, Jacob Speicher

No problems so far.

Please review the attached article (The article I wrote?). This article in the Record was the most unprofessional article I have ever read in your publication. (Really? I kind of find that hard to believe. But, fair enough.)

Your facts are not accurate and obviously never verified. (Umm, I talked to the mom and her sisters. I had a picture of Tiffany in her hospital bed. I also had it on good authority from one of my coworkers who personally knows the mother that everything was on the up and up. What's the problem?) Mrs. Kirlin IS NOT paralyzed from the neck down, but rather has very limited finger movement, although unfortuneately is paralyzed from the waist down. (Oh, I see. You want to argue semantics over "degrees" of paralyzed. Then, you're right. I'm sorry. )

We are all devestated by this accident, including her husband. Andrew Kirlin was never mentioned by anyone or you in this report. (This is a fair point. I did not mention Andrew for reasons that are uninteresting and not for public consumption. However, I should have mentioned the man's name, as I am sure this accident was just as traumatic for him as it was everyone else. I apologize.)

Does it not seem strange there was no organization sponsor of the hoagie sale and benefit for Tiffany Barkman-Kirlin? (No, people around here do it all the time.) Is this legal? (Why wouldn't it be?) Funds used for home improvement? (That's not really a question. It's more of a statement of frustration. The "home improvements" were to make the house wheelchair accessible, it said that in the story.) No accountability to anyone how monies will be spent? (This is a legitimate concern, and I won't make light of it. However, I think there was enough evidence, at least as far as I was concerned, that the family had legitimate fancial woes, and the money would be put to good use.)

Obviously, your reporter (you mean me? Right?) did not do any background work or verifiy statements made or quoted. (Yes, I made it all up. Integrity be damned.) Why? (I already said, don't care about integrity.)

I truly believe the Record owes an apology in your next publication to the public, contributors and helpers who were mislead by this article. (I'm not sure what I would be apologizing for. I guess leaving out the husband and not mentioning she has "very limited finger use." So, for that, I apologize.)

Thank you, (Your Welcome?)

Concerned Honey Brook Citizen